Telekon & I, Assassin
(BEGA 154CD)
© 1993 Beggar's Banquet Records

Telekon Liner Notes:

The release of TELEKON was preceded by the classic singles "We Are Glass" and "I Die: You Die", which consolidated Gary Numan's position as an artist who would become a mainstay of the contemporary music scene. Indeed he was so popular at the time of this release that the album entered the charts at Number One and "went gold" the following week. He then embarked on his most ambitious world tour to date, with a new stage show even larger and more spectacular than before. He performed to packed houses both in the U.K. and abroad and on a professional level things could hardly be better but the heavy workload was beginning to take its toll on Gary who, despite achieving so much, was still only 22 years of age.

In under two years he had released four albums, completed two world tours and done hundreds of promotional interviews and T.V. shows: was it any wonder that he was growing tired of what seemed an endless rock'n'roll circus? The lyrics of "Remind Me To Smile" articulated his innermost feelings:

"Reconsider fame - I need new reasons
This is detention - it's not fun at all"

Despite his enormous success, "Telekon" is probably the saddest album that Gary has ever recorded. Written while he was strugging to come to terms with the confinement that his new-found fame had brought him, songs like "Please Push No More" never fail to bring a lump to the throat, especially to the many thousands of fans who witnessed him singing it at the legendary "Farewell" shows at the Wembley Arena in 1981. I don't think I've ever witnessed an audience and performer so united in their sadness and emotion.

- Francis Drake

("We Are Glass" and "I Die: You Die" were issued as singles but not included on the original vinyl album (in the UK). "A Game Called Echo" was recorded at Rock City as part of the early album sessions and first released in 1985 on a retrospective 12". "Down In The Park (piano version)" was the B side of "I Die: You Die". "Photograph" (B side of "This Wreckage" single) and "Trois Gymnopedies" (B side of "We Are Glass") were left-over tracks from the "Freerange demo" sessions for THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE and recorded between 9-12 April 1979.)

I, Assassin Liner Notes:

I, ASSASSIN continued Numan's fusion of rock and funk as he augmented his vision of futuristic rhythmic music that started with the album DANCE, which, paradoxically, was not particularly dance-oriented at all! On this album it all fell into place; it is genuinely inspired dance music. Gary used the best session musicians he could muster, including renowned bass player Pino Palladino and drummer Chris Slade, and the results were sparkling. Once again Gary was leading the way; his unique use of the fretless bass sound was as innovative then as his use of the synthesizer had been in 1979. The anthemic "Music For Chameleons" became the first of three top-20 singles from the album, "White Boys And Heroes" and "We Take Mystery (To Bed)", the latter especially became a firm favourite with the fans and to this day sends a massed rush to the dance floors of the Numan Discos held up and down the country.

- Francis Drake

("Noise Noise" features Theresa Bazar on vocals and Gary considers it one of the best B sides he ever wrote. It was coupled with "Bridge? What Bridge?" on the other side of the 12" of "Music For Chameleons". "The Image Is" and "We Take Mystery (Early Version)" are from the B side of the "We Take Mystery (To Bed)" 12" single, while "Glitter And Ash" and "War Games" were 12" B sides of "White Boys And Heroes". On the same master tape as the latter B sides was a third song that has never previously been released, "This House Is Cold". The lyrics aren't available so you'll have to listen carefully!)

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